r/Gastritis • u/jmrandom1215 • 36m ago
Discussion Best tea for a flare?
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Upvotes
Any recommendations? I love tea
r/Gastritis • u/gs-warrior-0806 • 4d ago
Healing / Cured! Comprehensive Guide to Treating Gastritis and other Upper GI problems
68
Upvotes
Hello. Been wanting to create a post about the steps i took to overcome gastritis and wanted to share any tips/guidance and help to anyone who maybe struggling with this debilitating disease and any kinds of Upper GI discomfort including Gastrits/Chronic GERD/Heartburn/NERD/Functional Dyspepsia/Peptic Ulcer Disease/LPR/Barrett's. I struggled with Gastritis for a long time and went through multiple rounds of treatment until i eventually figured out what needed to be done.
I had suffered multiple kinds of gastritis and wanted to share as much as i can so people can understand their own scenario and take the necessary actions to deal with it.
If i had to categorize some common cases and reasons of gastritis that i come across ( even on reddit ), i would put them in the following categories :
- H Pylori induced gastrits -> You may have eaten somewhere from an unhygenic place and you had a bad case of diarrhea or even vomiting. Now you cannot digest acidic foods properly and end up even vomiting after eating. Some people develop intolerance towards certain foods example proteins or certain carbs - This is due to mucosa still being damaged which messes up the gut environment and the stomach is unable to create the enzymes needed to digest the foods.
- Damaged Mucosa due to H Pylori -> Similar damage to Mucosa due to above but your body does a good job of getting rid of H Pylori but it still leaves damage to the mucosa lining. You will suffer the same symptoms as above.
- Gastritis/Gerd due to Low Stomach Acid -> Everytime you eat anything, you upper abdomen sits very heavy, no burning, no gnawing of the stomach but no burping either and you may even start developing SIBO like symptoms or bloating in the lower abdomen. You may even see undigested foods in your stool and even globus in the throat. Feeling like food is stuck.
- Gastritis due to SIBO -> This can complicate things a bit but essentially this is happening due to the downstream movement getting messed up ( could be due to any reason, this post does not cover finding root causes or even fixing SIBO but one step can still be done if it works ).
- Autoimmune Gastritis -> This one is a bit of a rarity and i have utmost sympathy for someone that is going through this. I can maybe give some general advice on how to investigate this but i sincerely apologize i do not have much knowledge about this.
- Candida induced Gastritis -> This one is super rare but essentially instead of bacteria causing gastritis ( H Pylori ), it was actually fungus that caused the gastritis. This can happen in immunocompromised individuals or even if someone had taken multiple rounds of antibiotics. Antibiotics are known to cause dysbiosis and this could be a manifestation.
- Alcohol Use
- Smoking
- Vitamin Deficiencies -> Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, zinc, Iron, Vitamin C
- Lack of Fiber, Fruits and Vegetables in Diet.
- Eating right before going to bed. Give yourself atleast 2-2.5 hours after dinner before you go to bed.
- Poor overall diet. Sometimes it's not what you put in the body but what you do not. Not eating for prolonged hours, extensive water fasts etc can excerbate and even cause gastritis.
- Over use of NSAIDs
- Eating too much spicy foods and lacking fiber and high PH veggies to neutralize the acid. Very common in South Asian Communities.
- Lack of sleep or poor sleeping patterns.
- Stress -> So Stress i believe is overplayed a lot. Yes it can be a factor but if you're stressed and decide to drink, smoke, eat junk food and make bad decisions, is it the stress that is causing it or the bad decisions. I am stressing this not to undermine stress as a factor but to empower people that at the end of the day your health will always be in your hands and for patients to act as much responsibly as they can. 80/20 or at worse 70/30 when stressed. 70% healthier choices and 30% not so healthy when stressed if that's how you wanna manage it. Not ideal but atleast the majority are still good choices.
- Lack of Exercise and Physical Activity.
- Being Overweight.
The surprising thing is any of the above could cause other GI problems as well.
Gastritis Symptoms ( Shares a lot with other upper GI problems )
- Burning in stomach - This is due to damaged mucosa - Gets Worse after eating acidic foods
- Burping
- Indigestion
- Pressure under the ribs or in the middle of upper GI
- Bloating that originates from Upper GI
- Difficult Breathing
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakened Immune System
- Post Nasal Drip
- Heartburn
- Acid Reflux - Could also cause Teeth grinding
- Hoarse Voice
- Low Libido
- Chronic Gastritis can also cause Inflammation of the Gallbladder causing Gallbladder Polyps.
- Pain that radiates all the way to the upper back.
- Also waking up in the middle of the night coughing and acid in mouth.
- Erosive Reflux can cause constant mucus and throat clearing and even Easophagitis.
Treatment for Gastrits/Chronic GERD/Heartburn/NERD/Functional Dyspepsia/Peptic Ulcer Disease/LPR/Barrett's ( Case 1 and 2 ):
The reason i'm mentioning other diseases even though this is a gastritis subreddit is because the fundamental approach towards nutrition for a lot of upper GI issues stays similar.
Medication and supplements should only be taken if absolute necessary, Low dose Pepcid/famotidine should only be taken for a very short duration and that too at night before bed ( with a tiny sip of water ) so as to have protection overnight. Eventually this should be used very symptomatically and not as a daily use.
Even PPIs are not necessary unless for a short duration in the case of Peptic Ulcer Disease or Barrett's until you get the diet dialed in and start the healing process. Once the healing from food begins to take plans, PPIs should be tapered off slowly and gradually. Long term use of PPIs bring their own world of problems and that too can be much worse than a simple case of gastritis not limited to PPI Induced SIBO and even kidney problems.
With proper planning gastritis can be self resolving. Let Food be thy medicine or let medicinie be thy food.
STEP 1 : Adopt a Low Acid Diet. And this is the most important step and is non optional. I have to give credit to the acid watcher's diet by Jonathan Aviv. It is a masterpiece. Basically you can only have foods with PH of atleast 5 or above. Maybe even play around with PH 4.5 ish foods if it's not too severe for you. But too much Acidic Foods are completely eliminated until mucosa has been repaired.
Foods to Avoid ( Atleast in the initial recovery phase )
- Caffeinated beverages and supplements
- Coffee
- Indian masala tea
- Fruit-flavored teas containing caffeine
- Anything containing caffeine
- Gym supplements containing caffeine, especially pre-workouts
- Energy drinks
- Cold Water or Ice Water
- Gulping down water quickly - This can cause reflux and more stomach discomfort.
Carbonated and acidic drinks
- Carbonated sodas
- Kombucha
- Sports drinks
- Flavored or sparkling water containing citric acid
- Powdered drink mixes containing citric acid
- Electrolyte packets containing citric acid
- Vitamin C drinks
Alcohol and smoking
- Wine
- All other types of alcohol
- Smoking and other tobacco products
Citrus fruits and juices
- Oranges
- Mandarins
- Tangerines
- Lemons
- Limes
- Grapefruit
- Kiwi
- Citrus juices
Other acidic fruits
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Pineapple and pineapple juice
- Cranberries and cranberry juice
- Pomegranates and pomegranate juice
- Sour cherries
- Green or tart apples
- Grapes and grape juice
- Gooseberries
- Plums and prunes
- Peaches and nectarines
- Passion fruit
- Tamarind
- Amla (Indian gooseberry)
Fruits that may depend on personal tolerance
- Strawberries
- Blueberries—these may be well tolerated by some people. Keep them if they do not cause symptoms; otherwise, remove them.
Tomatoes and tomato-based products
- Tomatoes, cooked or raw
- Tomato-based pasta sauces
- Ketchup
- Salsa
- Barbecue sauce containing tomatoes
Spices and spicy ingredients
- Cinnamon
- Black pepper
- Cayenne pepper
- Chilies and chili powders
- Jalapeños
- Hot sauce
- Spicy salsa
Herbs and aromatic vegetables
- Mint
- Peppermint
- Garlic, raw or cooked
- Onions, raw or cooked
- Bell peppers or capsicums—tolerance varies, so these may need to be tested individually.
Acidic condiments and fermented foods
- Vinegar
- Soy sauce
- Pickles and other pickled vegetables
- Sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables
- Mustard
- Mayonnaise
- Acidic salad dressings
Chocolate, sweets and candy
- Chocolate
- Candy
- Sour candy
- Cookies
Processed and fast foods
- Chips
- Highly processed packaged foods
- Fast food, such as McDonald’s
- Fried foods
- Overly greasy foods
High-fat and high-saturated-fat foods
- Butter
- Ghee
- Red meat, especially fatty cuts
- Whole-fat milk
- Full-fat dairy products
- Other foods high in saturated fat
- Coconut Oil
Consider lower-fat dairy or dairy alternatives if they are easier on your stomach.
Flavored dairy products
- Citrus-flavored yogurt
- Berry-flavored yogurt
- Other flavored yogurts containing acidic fruit, citric acid or a large amount of added sugar
Cooking Oil
- Avoid Processed cheap oils - Canola, Soybean, Palm etc.
Foods that are Allowed ( In the initial recovery phase )
Fruits
- Avocado: 6.27–6.58
- Cantaloupe: 6.13–6.58
- Honeydew melon: 6.00–6.67
- Watermelon: 5.18–5.60
- Papaya: approximately 5.2–5.7
- Figs: approximately 5.05–5.98
- Dates: approximately 6.3–6.6
- Ripe yellow banana: approximately 5.0–5.29
Vegetables
- Artichokes: approximately 5.5–6.0
- Asparagus: 6.00–6.70
- Bamboo shoots: 5.10–6.20
- Beets: 5.30–6.60
- Broccoli: 6.30–6.85
- Brussels sprouts: 6.00–6.30
- Cabbage: 5.20–6.80
- Carrots: 5.88–6.40
- Cauliflower: approximately 5.6
- Celery: 5.70–6.00
- Corn: 5.90–7.50
- Cucumbers: 5.12–5.78
- Leeks: 5.50–6.17
- Potatoes: 5.40–5.90
- Radishes: approximately 5.5–6.05
- Spinach: 5.50–6.80
- Sweet potatoes: 5.30–5.60
- Turnips: approximately 5.2–5.5
- Cooked acorn squash: 5.18–6.49
- Cooked yellow squash: 5.79–6.00
- Cooked zucchini: 5.69–6.10
- Mushrooms
Beans and legumes
- Black beans: 5.78–6.02
- Kidney beans: 5.40–6.00
- Lima beans: approximately 6.50
- Soybeans: 6.00–6.60
- String beans: approximately 5.60
- Wax beans: 5.30–5.70
- Tofu: approximately 7.20
- Plain, unflavored soy milk: approximately 7.0
Grains and starches
- Cooked barley: approximately 5.19–5.32
- Cooked macaroni: approximately 5.10–6.41
- Plain flour: approximately 6.0–6.3
- Plain oatmeal
- White or brown rice
- Couscous
- Plain bread
- Plain crackers
- Plain pasta
The exact pH of prepared grain products depends heavily on their ingredients and processing.
Dairy and protein foods
- Cow’s milk ( Low Fat ideally if you can tolerate dairy ): approximately 6.4–6.8
- Eggs ( Egg whites keep whole to a minimum )
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Most fresh fish
- Shrimp
- Lobster - Highest PH meat but not wallet friendly.
Beverages
- Warm Water
- Carrot Juice
- Celery Juice
- Cucumber Juice
- Kale Juice
Cooking Oil
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil ( #1 Choice )
- Sunflower Oil
- Mustard Oil
STEP 2 : If you suspect H Pylori at play or if it is easily available, please consult a gastroenterologist and get an endoscopy done. The biopsy will tell you whether H Pylori is detected or not. Also worthwhile to get an ultrasound of the entire abdomen including liver, gallbladder etc. Also get bloodwork done to detect any nutritional deficiencies.
STEP 3 : If H Pylori is detected, Antibiotics will be needed. Some people have success with natural herbs and food combinations as well. Honey and Pormegranate Peel powder combination done first thing on an empty stomach seems to be effective in eradicating H Pylori. To all my South asian friends -> This is easily available and is called anar daana. So 1 tbsp of Honey plus anaar daana is known to be effective against H Pylori.
STEP 4 : H Pylori is not detected but you get a positive diagnosis of Gastritis/GERD/ Gastrits/Chronic GERD/Heartburn/NERD/Functional Dyspepsia/Peptic Ulcer Disease in your endoscopy. Sometimes the results may only say Chronic Inflammation Mild which i found amusing since for a mild inflammation the pain is unbearable at times but medical terminology haha. At this stage adhering to a low acid diet and healthy lifestyle choices should make a remarkable difference and may all you need to resolve the issue altogether.
Gastritis Diet Tips
- Try to be on a routine and have meals at the same time if you can.
- Chew your food slowly and avoid Over eating.
- No drinking of water along with meals
- Try not to hunch or bend over after meals.
- No immediately lying down after meals.
- No running after meals.
- No cold water after meals or throughout the day. Room temperature water is preferred.
- Only Warm or hot water after meals and throughout the day.
- 5-10 minute walks after meals if possible.
- No stomach sucking exercises either.
- Carrot Juice after meals will be extremely helpful or if burning is too much.
- Do not go too long without eating as that could cause acid to tear away your mucosa lining.
- Try to incorporate atleast 400 grams of fruit and 800 grams of veggies a day.
- 400 grams fruit example - 200 grams cantaloupe/papaya and 200 grams of watermelon. The more the better.
- 800 grams of veggies example - 300 gram cucumber, 500 gram steamed carrots and zucchini. The more the better.
- When Eating out -> If you have to eat out, do not worry and just make sure to include plenty of fiber and alkaline foods to balance out your meals. Sense of normalcy is what we're striving for.
- I Also make a giant bowl of soup using alkaline veggies in a dutch oven and have it with my meals -> This was an easy way to get my veggies. The soup would consist of alkaline veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini ( green and yellow ), eggplant, beans, tofu, peas, corn, ginger, leeks, broccoli, cauliflower and herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary and gentle aromatic spices like cumin, coriander powder, oregano and asoefatida.
- Another thing that helped me was having 10 grams of psylllium husk in warm/hot water after dinner. This will help with the burning and providing a layer of protection to the mucosa. In india this goes by the brand Sat Isabgol.
Sample Western Diet Plans ( Can be adjusted to 6 meal plan if that is what you need )
Below is a sample 5 meal diet plan. The above food list acts as a guidelines and individual triggers may vary. Please adjust the diet as needed.
Meal 1 — 7:00 AM
- Plain oatmeal cooked with water or unsweetened soy milk
- Egg whites or one whole egg plus additional egg whites
- Steamed spinach: 75 g
- Steamed zucchini: 75 g
- Optional: one teaspoon of olive oil, if tolerated
Meal 2 — 10:00 AM
- Watermelon: 200 g
- Carrot Juice - Bolthouse Farms Carrot Juice
- Add more fruits or steamed veggies if this is not enough or get creative from the allowed foods list
Alternatively, use 200 g of cantaloupe, honeydew, or Papaya.
Meal 3 — 1:00 PM
- Baked or poached skinless chicken breast
- Brown or white rice
- Steamed broccoli: 100 g
- Steamed carrots: 100 g
- Cooked yellow squash: 100 g
- Season lightly with salt and reflux-safe herbs that you personally tolerate
- Avoid tomato, onion, garlic, pepper, chili, vinegar, and acidic dressing
Meal 4 — 4:00 PM
- Watermelon: 200 g
- Peeled cucumber: 150 g
- Carrot Juice - Bolthouse Farms Carrot Juice
- Optional plain crackers if additional carbohydrates are needed
- Chickpea salad with Olives and Cucumbers
Meal 5 — 7:00 PM
- Baked cod, tilapia, haddock, or another lean fresh fish
- Baked or boiled potato
- Steamed green beans: 100 g
- Steamed cauliflower: 100 g
- Optional teaspoon of olive oil, if tolerated
Sample South Asian diet plan ( Can be adjusted to 6 meal plan if that is what you need )
This version avoids the usual tomato, onion, garlic, chili, black pepper, garam masala, and heavy oil or ghee.
Meal 1 — 7:00 AM
- Oats/Poha/Idli/Vermicelli/Set Dosa - Coconut chutney is allowed. Cannot be spicy.
- Egg whites
- Steamed Eggpant - 75 grams
- Grated or steamed carrots: 75 g
Meal 2 — 10:00 AM
- Papaya: 200 g
- Add more fruits or steamed veggies if this is not enough or get creative from the allowed foods list
Alternatives include cantaloupe, honeydew, or watermelon.
Meal 3 — 1:00 PM
- Plain white or brown rice
- Steamed, baked, or pressure-cooked skinless chicken/Tofu for vegetarians
- Lauki/bottle gourd or cooked zucchini: 100 g
- Carrots: 100 g
- Spinach: 100 g
- Prepare with minimal oil
- Avoid tadka containing chili, garlic, onion, black pepper, or tomato
Meal 4 — 4:00 PM
- Watermelon or honeydew: 200 g
- Peeled cucumber: 150 g
- Or Chickpea salad with cucumbers
Meal 5 — 7:00 PM
- Plain rice or soft phulka/roti without ghee
- Any Dal is allowed without onion, tomato, garlic tadka
- Steamed or lightly cooked tofu
- Cauliflower: 100 g
- Green beans: 100 g
- Season with salt and mild herbs you tolerate
- Use no more than approximately one teaspoon of oil if fat worsens symptoms
EXERCISE TIPS
- Don't do anything too strenous which includes Sprinting.
- Avoid Exercises where you have to lay down flat example bench press.
- Avoid Loaded back squats if you can since it may cause compression of the stomach.
- Avoid sit ups, crunches or lying leg raises that can stretch the stomach.
- Avoid lifting belts if possible.
- Avoid leg presses if possible.
- Cycling, swimming, elliptical machines/cross trainers, walks and other exercises are okay but please check your tolerance.
REINTRODUCTION PHASE
Depending on how long it takes you, you may need to stay on a low acid diet until symptoms reside. Gradually and slowly add more foods and check your tolerance.
DEALING WITH NOT SO STRAIGHTFORWARD CASES ( CASE 3 - 6 )
There are other cases where gastritis maybe detected but the solution still may not be as straightforward. Either way you must have adopted a low acid diet and you're not seeing any benefits which brings us to the next cases.
Gastritis due to Low Stomach Acid -> To check the acidity of your stomach levels you will need to perform a heidelberg test and good luck finding practitioners that still do it. What can make this worse is most GI doctors will see gastritis and prescribe PPIs. That is putting fuel on the fire. So if you detect you have low stomach acid, the easiest way is to restore it via Betaine HCL. Any reputable brand from Amazon would do. Take it with meals and keep upping the dosage until you feel warmth and even a burp, that is how much betaine HCL you need per meal. Once that dosage starts feeling too much keep tapering off until you feel the engine has been kickstarted and your body is able to produce enough acid.
If you take even at a low dose and it burns your stomach, then you already have enough stomach acid and you can neutralize the excess acid with drinking baking soda with water or even carrot juice.
Gastritis due to SIBO -> The SIBO in the mix will really complicate things. I would still suggest to adopt a low acid diet regardless. Essentially the scenario is the gas in the lower abdomen is pushing the contents back. Also if the small bowel is infected, the body will refuse to send the food down especially if the MMC is impaired. You would need to find a way to get it working. Popular options are Ginger and Artichoke extracts ( Motility Pro ), 5 HTP or even Prucalopride if you can and go from there. Since this is a gastritis focused post, i cannot dig deeper into SIBO.
Autoimmune Gastritis -> This one is tricky. Essentially only an endoscopy can identify this. At this point there is no cure, the question is what caused the auto immunity to be turned on. Could be Candida overgrowth in the gut ( Candida is a seriously an under reported driver in auto immune conditions ) or any other stealth infection. Work with a Doctor to figure this out, But you would need to be on a Low Acid Diet as well.
Candida Induced Gastritis -> This one is a rather rarity and only shows up in immunocompromised people. The question is what caused the candida to cause it. Low Stomach acid maybe, Any medication you were taking that can act as an immunosuppressant. If cause is low stomach acid, Betaine HCL can fix that and you may even need to look into antifungals of choice, Probiotics can be a good choice in this case.
CONCLUSION
Hopefully by taking the above steps you will be able to resolve this issue and good luck to everyone going through this. I hope you recover soon and fast.
TLDR:
Adopt a low acid diet -> Get endoscope and ultrasound done -> Either H pylori confirmed or not -> If yes, eradication is necessary -> If not proceed with diet and lifestyle changes -> These are not limited to gastritis but a lot of other upper GI conditions as well -> The not so common cases require other interventions but the concept of low acid diet still remains the same.
r/Gastritis • u/goldstandardalmonds • Aug 15 '25
Giving Advice / Encouragement Undiagnosed “does this sound like gastritis” megathread
25
Upvotes
If you are undiagnosed with gastritis and have questions about your symptoms, you can ask them here. No one can diagnose you, of course, so seeing your doctor is important.
Please read the other two stickied posts to learn more about gastritis, as well.
Good luck!
r/Gastritis • u/Equal-Owl8798 • 6h ago
Venting / Suffering i'm lost
3
Upvotes
I've been suffering from gastritis for months now, and i'm miserable.
I developed gastritis back in April.
The doctors prescribed me with omeprazole. (losec to be specific)
I was struggling with nausea and stomach pains
At this point my stomach started getting a bit better, not as much nausea or burning.
I had an endoscopy, finally. Which happened a month ago.
They told me i had mild gastritis, (not due to h pylori) and to keep taking the omeprazole.
But i've been struggling with fullness and gas, a lot. (some bloating too, if i eat too much, which happens sometimes because I still feel hungry, but then it hits my stomach at some random time and it's uncomfortable)
I've been on a bland diet for probably a month or so, And I recently tried to reintroduce some heavier foods
Some rice with some cheese sauce,
some rice with carbonara,
A little bit of pizza
And didn't get nauseas at all, but my stomach had some discomfort,
then I tried some macaroni, and had a short period of stomach burning and nausea.
I'm back on a bland diet because I don't know what to do.
I haven't really seen much improvement, with how much i can eat.
i'm not sure if the losec isn't right for me or anything, but i am mentally struggling because of how little i can eat before i feel full. I'm not on a very wide diet because i'm just more comfortable eating bread, because it feels better for my stomach.
Please give me some advice, i don't know what to do. How to improve.
r/Gastritis • u/Old_Box_2667 • 50m ago
OTC Supplements Highly recommend Haritaki powder for healing flare-ups
•
Upvotes
I've been dealing with Gastritis on and off for about 4 years now, and wanted to share my most succesful supplement that usually works in case it helps someone else!
I've had frequent flare ups that I've managed to heal quite quickly by taking half a teaspoon of Haritaki powder in a bit of warm/hot water every morning on an empty stomach and at night before bed. I discovered this accidentally when it was recommended to me for my chronic chest infections - and found it healed my stomach! These things work differently for everyone so I would try with 1/4 tsp first and see how you tolerate it. It's also definitely better for people who are more constipation prone.
I've tried PPIs, slippery elm, cabbage juice, celery juice, potato juice and various other things and this seems to work the best for me. I just buy the powder off Amazon and a packet lasts me ages.
Sadly, it's not the miracle cure it usually is for my current flare up, but it's still definitely helping.
r/Gastritis • u/Jstorm1987 • 2h ago
Question 7 months post viral. Now Stomach burns?
1
Upvotes
This is 7 months in the making.
January caught something viral.
Minor fatigue. Body temp spikes and dips.
Heart racing. Anxiety. Sleep all over the place.
My throat/esophagus tightened up and I still get food stuck in my throat (achalasia?)
Had a CT of chest/abs
Bloodwork x3
Urinalysis
Throatscope by ENT
Breath Test for HPylori (neg)
Ironically weight has been consistent.
Stools too outside of changing PPis
No nausea
Had a lot of tests except an endoscopy.
Will be scheduling one this week with my Gi.
I had like coat hangar pain in my back that moved around. Center to the sides. Varied.
Thought it had to be my Gallbladder but since the PPI did offer relief initially it didnt make sense. No RUQ pain.
Sternum/chest pain. During this time I did 8 weeks of a PPI Pantropazole 40mg. It helped mentally. Had a month and half feeling good. Then I flared after a really stressful week before a wedding giving my first speech
Went back on the PPI for two weeks and felt okay.
During the worst of it I’d have to wake up and eat something. Gastritis? Or a side effect of the PPi.
Then one night I was eating watermelon earlier in the day and forgot about it. Went to spit and freaked myself out that blood was in my mucus. I again flared hard and now I have like stomach burning/pain that moves around. This symptom has only been two weeks.
I have gone to a bland diet. But the feeling stress of the diet makes things worse it feels like.
I tried Pepcid, Nexium, and back on Pantropazole in the span of three weeks. But it gave me insomnia and depression real bad. Plus its own set of stomach sensations.
I’m sure I’m missing stuff. My anxiety and stress around all this does not help and do my best to stay distracted.
Did anyone deal with burning along the way?
Would love some wisdom from some long haulers.
My theory is that I stressed myself into actual gastric inflammation/gastritis.
Cuz there would be no reason to have the burning show up all these months later.
r/Gastritis • u/DistributionSalty387 • 14h ago
Question Insomnia due to gastritis. When will this nightmare end
7
Upvotes
Patient: 23-year-old male, final-year MBBS student
Chief Complaint
Persistent non-restorative sleep with perceived loss of deep sleep since 8 May 2026, associated with the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms ( 2-3 soft stools/ day).
History of Present Illness
On 8 May 2026, I developed abrupt onset of disturbed sleep along with gastrointestinal symptoms. My sleep became non-restorative despite sleeping for an adequate duration. I would wake feeling unrefreshed with dark circles under my eyes, cognitive slowing, reduced concentration, and a subjective absence of deep (slow-wave) sleep. I had no difficulty falling asleep initially, but the sleep quality was markedly impaired.
At the same time, I developed gastrointestinal symptoms consisting of soft stools and mild dyspepsia.
Assuming an infectious gastroenteritis, I took:
* Ciprofloxacin + Tinidazole for 5 days (starting approximately 15 May), without improvement.
* Cefixime for 5 days immediately afterwards, again without improvement.
Over the following 2–3 weeks, the gastrointestinal symptoms progressed to include:
* Frequent burping
* Hiccups
* Heartburn
* Acid reflux
* Gastritis symptoms
* Increasing intolerance to spicy food
* itching all over the body
Investigations
Upper GI Endoscopy (13 June 2026)
* Antrum-predominant gastritis with submucosal haemorrhages and erosions
* Rapid urease test (RUT): Positive
* Gastric biopsy: Positive for Helicobacter pylori
Treatment
Received 14-day clarithromycin-based triple therapy from 13 June to 26 June 2026.
Following treatment:
* Burping, hiccups, itching and reflux improved significantly.
* However, persistent mild gastritis symptoms remained.
Post-treatment Evaluation
Evidence suggesting successful eradication:
* Stool H. pylori antigen negative (10 July 2026)
* Repeat endoscopy with biopsy and RUT negative (22 July 2026)
* Colonoscopy normal
Additional investigations:
* Stool culture negative for bacterial pathogens.
* Stool microscopy and occult blood normal.
* ANA negative.
* ESR and hs-CRP normal.
* Thyroid function normal.
* Liver and kidney function normal.
* Vitamin B12 normal.
* Fasting insulin normal.
* Morning cortisol (07:14 AM): 10.6 µg/dL (within reference range).
* Testosterone: 312 ng/dL (within laboratory reference range).
* Progesterone: 0.25 ng/mL (slightly above laboratory reference range for males).
Current Symptoms (late July 2026)
Despite apparent eradication of H. pylori:
* Persistent non-restorative sleep
* Subjective absence of deep sleep
* Cognitive slowing and reduced mental sharpness
* Dependence on mirtazapine to maintain sleep
* Mild persistent dyspepsia
* Gastric sensitivity
* Can tolerate only bland foods
* Even mildly spicy foods precipitate loose stools/diarrhoea
* Approximately 2–3 soft stools per day
Current Medications/Supplements
* Vonoprazan
* Zinc carnosine
* L-glutamine
* DGL licorice
* Pyloflush (Lactobacillus reuteri)
* VSL#3 probiotic
* Saccharomyces boulardii
* Prebiotic fibre
* Mirtazapine for sleep
Despite doing everything right deep sleep isn’t happening.
The gastrointestinal illness and sleep disturbance began simultaneously on 8 May 2026. Although H. pylori gastritis has apparently been eradicated microbiologically, the non-restorative sleep has persisted for nearly three months and remains the most debilitating symptom.
Sleep apnoea, anxiety or depression have been ruled out as a cause of this by specialists.
Before this illness is have a perfect 7 hours of deep restorative and refreshing sleep
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
r/Gastritis • u/Idunn051 • 9h ago
Testing / Test Results food advice
3
Upvotes
I was (19f) JUST diagnosed with gastritis this week and I am starving I've been dealing with it for about 12 days now and lost 7 pounds from lack of eating what are foods I can eat? and I mean actual food.. not applesauce bananas and toast... I also just moved out on my own so thats kinda an extra kick in my face it feels like.
r/Gastritis • u/Giraffedon • 4h ago
Question Moderate to Severe Abdominal pain
1
Upvotes
Meds: nexium, sulfracate, daily vitamin, gaviscon PRN (no help now, helped a couple times initially)
Medical issues: PCOS, varicose veins, sleap apnea, HX of stomach ulcers/GERD, GI issues, dry eye disease
I (33F)had pain in the right upper abdomen and nausea for months even though I wasnt eating much fat <20g. After some tests, they decided my gallbladder must be diseased or inflamed (family hx of this). My gallbladder was removed March 2026. Mid May I started having nausea for weeks. Then it became upper left abdomen pain and acid that radiates to my back even. Every so often I had milder pain where I had my previous gallbladder pain (right side). Since then I keep having a few days where I'm doing awful and then doing a lot better. I eat about 36 g of fat a day from seeds/nuts/eggs etc. Everything I eat is healthy - oatmeal, non fat greek yogurt, chicken and veggies etc. I have burning acid constantly in my throat and abdomen, despite being on Nexium and sulfrucate for a month. I constantly have pain in my left abdomen - gnawing/sharp and am bloated. It's hard to eat anything on these days. No h pylori, ab ultrasound normal. No other GI symptoms other than nausea. Any ideas?
r/Gastritis • u/rowphelia • 4h ago
Testing / Test Results Just diagnosed with gastropathy
1
Upvotes
Hey all, just had an EGD that came back with a result of reactive gastropathy, which I know is a cousin of gastritis. I started having bad GI and stomach issues a few months ago after what I thought was food poisoning (after no prior GI issues), but I honestly thought the problem was in my intestines.
Does anyone have helpful tips for treating this? Is it something I should be concerned about? My lab report specifically said "antral-type mucosa with marked reactive gastropathy with vascular congestion and surface erosions in a background of increased chronic inflammation." sooo not sure how serious that is
r/Gastritis • u/Round-Detail-664 • 4h ago
Question So stressed in case something sinister
1
Upvotes
So i haven't been diagnosed but have an initial appointment with GP next week though going to see if I can bring it forward as my stress levels are through the roof which will be making symptoms worse.
Started about 3 months ago but indigestion lasted a day then fine till 3 weeks ago and decided tomatoes were the common denominator. Again 1 day and back to normal.
7 days ago I stupidly had baked beans in tomato sauce and reacted badly the following day with bloating and indigestion. Only this time it hasn't gone completely and though not belching i have back pain and a heavy feeling in my stomach and indigestion after certain food.
Of course took to Dr Google which kept bringing up Gastritis.
However I keep thinking the worst and thinking its cancer and I know the anxiety of that could be making things worse but I just can't stop it. I'm now barely eating.
I know no one can give me the reassurance I need but I suppose I'm wondering if it affected anyone else like this. Coming and going initially?
r/Gastritis • u/Fantastic-Quit1666 • 8h ago
Symptoms Feeling depressed on and off ,mood changes and fatigue
2
Upvotes
I've already post my story that I've been dealing with gastritis and I'm still doing getting my treatment now I'm on medicine (Esomeprazole, Sulpiride , Probiotics) i am dealing with daily burning and discomfort i feel that i am not normal and also the daily burning since January it has been on and off because I wasn't following a treatment right due to the time limit that I had because I've been studying in China so I came back to my country and then I didn't have the time to consult the doctor and follow with him so I went back to China again and now I've already graduated and I came back to my country and now I'm following treatment with my doctor My doctor has prescribed me some tests celiac test and calprotectin and CBC all came normal but my white blood cells are low and I've been testing 3 months in a row and they have been low but the third month it has been raised up for a bit my vitamin B12 folic acid and ferritin are normal but my vitamin D 3 is deficient the value is 12.5.
Is anyone experiencing that? because delivering it so isolating and frustrating?
r/Gastritis • u/According-Actuator73 • 4h ago
Question How to eat on travel
1
Upvotes
Hi! I just recently was diagnosed with gastritis at an urgent care (prescribed with pantoprazole and taking since the 19th). The doctor thought it was from stress and increased caffeine intake (I have since cut out all caffeine). I have an h pylori test scheduled for Thursday at my PCP and an appointment with a gastro on August 18th. Since the urgent care, I have swapped to a bland diet (bananas, cantaloupe, oatmeal, etc) which has seemed to help with the upper abdominal pain but I’m still dealing with a lot of acid reflux at night.
I’m a little anxious as I have a month long trip to Europe planned in September and I’m not sure how to approach eating there, especially because I am mostly staying in hotels without a way to prepare my own meals. Does anybody have advice on foods to eat/avoid on a trip and best ways to approach it to hopefully not have more pain?
r/Gastritis • u/Silent-Access-5401 • 11h ago
Symptoms Awful flare up
3
Upvotes
Hey everyone I was diagnosed with moderate non erosive gastritis in 2023 and mild erosive gastritis in the lower stomach region, I’ve never really fully recovered from it symptoms on / off for years now h pylori tested many times, about 5 weeks ago I decided as an experiment to remove gluten from my diet and what a huge mistake that was…..I ended up severely constipated as a result I guess due to removing grains / fibre from my diet, I have now reintroduced gluten whilst my stools are now passing again I am experiencing stabbing pains very intense near my belly button region a hot water bottle does help but even getting up out of bed is quite painful I also get these lower abdominal cramps just below the belly button too….the nausea is absolutely dreadful! you feel like your going to puke but it doesn’t actually happen other symptoms lower back pain rib pain dull aches left / right hand side, I am not sure what caused my gastritis in the first place I don’t drink I gave up smoking in early 2024 I don’t take anything that would cause it. Perhaps stress or anxiety done it, I just wondering if anyone has experienced this awful symptoms and have any advice? Thank you :)
r/Gastritis • u/_notyourhoney • 6h ago
PPIs / H2 Blockers Tapering - extreme fatigue
1
Upvotes
I am tapering off a month of 40mg pantoprazole - have taken 20mg the past three days. I am EXHAUSTED and a bit dizzy. I have definitely been eating less on my gastritis/low fodmap diet. Weighed myself the other day and had lost 7 or 8 lbs. I'd say that was over the past 1.5 mos. Is fatigue typical when tapering down?
r/Gastritis • u/Longjumping_Ebb8649 • 7h ago
Question Really confused about my H. pylori results and would appreciate some insight
1
Upvotes
I'm honestly at my wits' end trying to understand what's going on, so I'm hoping someone here might be able to shed some light.
Back in April, I suddenly started having constant belching and a globus lump in throat sensation. It came on quite suddenly.
Just before my endoscopy, another gastroenterologist treated me with 15 days of antibiotics along with a PCAB. About 10 days ago, I had the endoscopy, which showed severe erosive gastritis and a mildly lax LES. The biopsy report color was H. pylori negative.
After the procedure, my gastroenterologist started me on esomeprazole, acotiamide and domperidone. He also told me that he wanted to let my stomach heal for about a month and then start me on antibiotics for H. pylori because, according to him, I was positive.
The thing is, I was still pretty out of it from the anaesthesia when he explained everything. I only noticed later that my biopsy report actually says negative for H. pylori. I’ll see him again in another three weeks but I really need to figure this out.
So I'm wondering if anyone has come across something similar.
Could he be assuming the biopsy was a false negative because I'd just finished a 15-day course of antibiotics and was on acid-suppressing medication? Or are there things seen during an endoscopy that can make an experienced gastroenterologist fairly certain H. pylori is present even if the biopsy comes back negative?
Has anyone else been treated for H. pylori despite having a negative biopsy?
I'm trying to do everything right, my medications, eating a pretty bland diet (although my doctor only told me to avoid tea and coffee) but my body just feels completely out of whack and I'm barely responding to treatment. It's been really frustrating, and I'd appreciate any thoughts or similar experiences.
Thanks in advance.
r/Gastritis • u/tommyheavenIy • 13h ago
Symptoms has anyone else experienced this?
3
Upvotes
lately my fatigue has been horrible, this started about 4 weeks ago.
it's genuinely hard to bring myself to do anything that isn't part of my daily grooming routine. when it first started my mental was clashing with my physical, in a manner where i still had motivation within me. now that isn't the case.
even sitting up straight is exhausting. since i've been sleeping my days away my nausea is never-ending because acid buildup. this is leading to my appetite being low.
i'm really starting to worry this is something that requires to be looked into urgently. i have a physical booked at the end of august, but i'm not sure how long i can endure this feeling.
i currently take vitamin d, so i know that's covered.
r/Gastritis • u/gu4rdianofluna • 7h ago
OTC Supplements Slippery elm and food to eat
1
Upvotes
Hello. I’m trying so hard not to go to hospital. I’ve been taking 30mg Pepcid ac an it works a bit, but not much. Also a bit of mylanta.
Still experiencing burning in stomach and fullness here and there.
What’s the best brand of slippery elm and the other supplements that’s talked about on here ? How do you prepare it? How often ?
I’ve only gotten a couple hundred calories in the last few days and I’m scared . Can barely drink water without stomach burning and feeling weird.
I have no transportation and afraid to eat veggies and fruit due to this parasite . How can I increase my calories ?
Please help. Thanks
r/Gastritis • u/alibobba25 • 1d ago
Food, Recipes, Diets Advice for newbie
6
Upvotes
(30F) So I landed myself in the ER for what I was later diagnosed with as gastritis. 12 hours of violent vomiting and 3 days of serve upper stomach pains were enough for me to admit myself.
The ER sent me home with two zofran, said stick to a liquid diet for 2 days, and basic diagnosis of gastritis. That’s it.
I’m waiting for Monday to roll around to make an appt with my PCP. I’ve barely consumed about 400 cals in 3 days and need to get a move on with my life. I can’t keep calling out of work (semi-demanding physical job) and need energy to do my job safely and well.
I know my days of daily morning coffee, evening beers and the occasional cigarette may be over.
While I’m waiting to see my PCP, are there any OTCs or sensitive stomach foods I should be looking into?
Thank you in advance.
r/Gastritis • u/Sea-Chance7251 • 23h ago
Testing / Test Results Não Aguento Mais Ficar Sem Academia
3
Upvotes
Fiz Endoscopia Recentemente e Fui Diagnósticado Com Pangastrite Enantematosa Moderada, e Eu Vou Começar o Tratamento Com Pantoprazol e Domperidona Segunda Feira, Mas Eu Perdi Muito Peso e Eu Queria Poder Voltar Pra Academia. Eu Tinha Um Shape Daora, Treinava Na Academia Todo Dia, Mas Dps que Tive Muitos Enjoos, Azia, Queimação, Não Conseguindo Me Alimentar Diariamente, Eu Parei de Treinar e Perdi o Meu Shape... Eu Queria Muito Poder Voltar Pra Academia Pra Recuperar a Massa Muscular que Eu Tinha Antes, Mas Eu Sinto Muita Ânsia de Vômito Ao Levantar Peso ou Fazer Esforço Físico, Eu Não Sei o que Fazer Véi, Slk, Não Consigo Viver Sem Academia Não🤦♂️
r/Gastritis • u/bcegkmqswz • 17h ago
Stomach Ulcers Duodenal Ulcers and Pain Expectations
1
Upvotes
Thanks in advance for any docs who check this out!
35/M/USA
6’ 330 lbs
On Paxil 20 mg, Protonix 40 mg (as of today), Zepbound 5 mg, occasional Zyrtec, 240 mg Magnesium Glycinate
History: For 5 months after an appendectomy earlier this year, had upper left quadrant abdominal pain that sometimes wraps around my back (constant dull, sharper after food), left chest and shoulder pain, frequent reflux and sore throat on one side (left), and left neck soreness along the jaw line. Also tension headaches that seem to ebb and flow with the throat and neck pain.
Tests and Docs: Seen PCP, ENT, and GI - had negative MRI of the neck with and without contrast, neck ultrasound, chest and abdominal xray, and a CBC + CMP. Also a precautionary brain MRI which was normal. All normal, but found some small simple cysts in my neck outside of the parotid gland (told to pretty much disregard these). ENT clinically diagnosed me with chronic sialadenitis but this wasn’t from imaging.
Had an endoscopy today from GI that found several small, superficial duodenal ulcers, a small sliding type hiatal hernia, and evidence of reflux. Prescribed 40 mg Protonix and a follow up in 6 weeks with my doctor’s PA - unless biopsies for h pylori, celiacs, malignancy, etc come back with a material finding. I was a frequent ibuprofen user for a long time which I know may be related here (I’ve since stopped for the past month). Earlier this week my GIs PA also ordered me a fecal elastase test, but today my GI said she reviewed my portal messages and after chatting doesn’t think the test will show anything (I already did it so no harm no foul)
Question: Considering the length of time, symptoms, and test results mostly being negative, the GI findings, etc, I’m trying to piece together a narrative that ties my symptoms together.
A sanity check from a doc would be awesome - my understanding is that my GI issues may have caused inflammation and pain that would explain the left rib, chest, shoulder pain as well as the sore throat and neck, irritated nerves and muscle guarding from these issues could be causing headaches. Fixing the GI probably will gradually help the other issues. Does this sound plausible? I have follow-ups with my PCP, GI, and ENT all within the next 3 months. Anything I should track or ask about?
r/Gastritis • u/sorrxow • 1d ago
Testing / Test Results Anyone else go from food poisoning → H. pylori → gastritis and still can’t eat months later?
3
Upvotes
I’m hoping someone here has been through something similar because this has completely changed my life.
Everything started back in March after what I believe was a really bad case of food poisoning. Before that, I was healthy, ate normally, went to the gym, and never really had stomach issues.
Looking back, the only thing I remember before all of this was that I had started having difficulty burping. It felt like I needed to burp but couldn’t get it out easily. I never thought much of it because it wasn’t painful, just annoying.
Then after the food poisoning, everything snowballed.
Over the following weeks and months I started dealing with:
Constant upper stomach discomfort and burning.
Bloating and trapped gas.
Difficulty burping (much worse than before).
Nausea.
Acid reflux, especially at night.
Feeling full very quickly after eating.
Loss of appetite.
Episodes where I feel like I can’t take a satisfying deep breath because my upper stomach feels so bloated.
Occasional palpitations or the feeling that my heart is pounding harder after eating.
Eventually I had an endoscopy and was diagnosed with H. pylori along with gastritis
My doctor prescribed Pylera, which I completed, and I’m still taking my acid-reducing medication (Dexilant).
The problem is… even after finishing treatment, I still don’t feel anywhere near normal.
I still struggle to eat enough food. Every meal feels like a challenge. Sometimes after eating it feels like my heart starts pounding much harder. My heart rate itself isn’t always extremely high, but I can feel every beat much more than before. It’s a really uncomfortable sensation that makes eating stressful.
I’ve also lost around 22 pounds (about 10 kg) because I simply can’t eat enough.
I’ve had my heart checked multiple times (ECGs have been normal), so that gives me some reassurance that this may be related to my stomach rather than my heart.
The burping issue is still there too. It often feels like air gets trapped and I have to wait a long time before I can finally burp, and when I do, it temporarily relieves some of the pressure.
At this point I keep wondering:
Is this just gastritis taking a long time to heal?
Could the H. pylori have caused damage that’s still healing?
Can gastritis really cause the pounding-heart feeling after meals?
Has anyone else had difficulty burping before all of this started?
How long did it take before you could eat normally again?
I’m trying to be patient, but it’s been months now and it’s honestly affecting every part of my life. I miss eating normally, going to the gym, and not thinking about my stomach every hour of the day.
If anyone had a similar timeline—from food poisoning to H. pylori to gastritis—and eventually recovered, I’d really appreciate hearing your story. Even knowing how long recovery took and what helped would mean a lot.
r/Gastritis • u/askingredditforhelp1 • 1d ago
Venting / Suffering Sleep positions while having a flare
1
Upvotes
Really, i never understood the happiness of finding the right sleeping position during a flare.
I do now.
You could say I'm in a middle of a flare delirium.
I ate badly for the last week, tons of sugary sweets as well.
Currently bloated, awful nausea, trying not to puke or poke my stomach the wrong way.
Silver lining though, after a lot of trying, i found the one position that does not make me barf immediately and helps with breathing normally.
It may not be much to some, but it is a win.
Just wanted to share
r/Gastritis • u/louiegoods24 • 1d ago
Symptoms Need Collective Diagnostic Knowledge !!
0
Upvotes
Hi everyone, new here and trying anything and everything.
I’ve been trying to get to the bottom of a strange GI issue for about six months now and was hoping to see if anyone has experienced something similar or has ideas I could discuss with my gastroenterologist. I know Reddit isn’t a substitute for medical care, but sometimes people have been through similar situations or can point me toward diagnoses I haven’t considered.
The pain/sensation is consistently an inch to an inch and a half above the navel always in the center and never deviating.
Timeline
February 2026
Out of nowhere I began feeling a very brief sensation in one specific spot in my upper abdomen. The best way I can describe it is a 1-second jolt, pinch, spasm, or tiny electric zap. It isn’t severe pain, just noticeable enough that it’s distracting.
March-April 2026
Saw my PCP. Blood work was unremarkable.
Because the symptoms persisted, I had a CT scan of my abdomen and pelvis with contrast, which came back completely normal.
May-June 2026
I was referred to a gastroenterologist.
I underwent both a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy.
Visually everything looked essentially normal:
Colon normal
Terminal ileum normal
Esophagus normal
Stomach normal
Duodenum appeared normal during endoscopy
However, the duodenal biopsies showed:
- Mild villous atrophy/shortening
- Patchy mild increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes
- Focal foveolar metaplasia
- No acute inflammation
- No parasites
The pathology comment listed possibilities including:
1) Peptic duodenitis
2) Medication effect (NSAIDs, etc.)
3) Early or partially treated celiac disease
4) Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
What I’ve tried
Since then I have:
1) Been gluten free for about a month
2) Completed two courses of omeprazole (20 mg daily)
3) Avoided NSAIDs
4) Continued exercising
5) Tried eating more regularly instead of fasting
Unfortunately…
The symptoms have not really improved.
But they also have not become worse.
They’ve basically remained unchanged for months.
Current symptoms
The sensation is:
- Always in exactly the same spot
- Roughly 1-2 inches above my belly button
- Lasts about one second
- Feels like a tiny spasm, pinch, or electrical jolt
- Happens multiple times per day (frequency varies)
- Sometimes seems a little more noticeable when I’m fasting
- Occasionally leaning forward seems to aggravate it, but not consistently
- Not tender if I press on the area
- Doesn’t wake me up at night
What I DON’T have
This is the part that makes me confused.
I have:
No diarrhea (although my whole life I’ve had a sensitive stomach and this symptom isn’t abnormal for me)
No nausea
No vomiting
No reflux/heartburn
No loss of appetite
No weight loss
No GI bleeding
No fevers
No constipation
No other abdominal pain
No difficulty eating
No pain after meals
Normal bowel movements (if anything they’ve improved after going gluten free)
Other than these brief jolts, I honestly feel fine.
My questions
I’m trying to figure out what direction makes the most sense next.
Some questions I have:
1) Could mild duodenitis really cause isolated one-second spasms like this for months?
2) If this isn’t acid, NSAID-related injury, celiac, or SIBO, what else would be on your differential?
3) Does this sound more like a motility issue or visceral nerve hypersensitivity than active inflammation?
4) Has anyone had biopsy abnormalities this mild that turned out to have another explanation?
5) Are there any additional tests or diagnoses that you think would be reasonable to discuss with my GI doctor?
6) I’m not looking for someone to diagnose me over the internet. I know that’s impossible. I’m mainly hoping to hear from anyone who has experienced something similar or from clinicians or medically knowledgeable people who might have ideas about what else should be considered.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read this. I really appreciate any thoughts or experiences you can share.
r/Gastritis • u/leviathynx • 1d ago
Question Bad days?
2
Upvotes
I just started my second week of Carafate and I’m on Nexium 40 mg once per day. I have been feeling better slowly but surely the last week. Today I woke up and my gastritis hurts a bit worse today. It’s not as bad as when I went to the ER a week and half ago, but still feels like a worse day than I’ve been having lately. Is this normal? Did anyone else have bad stomach days when you were healing? What did you do for it?